Keating Backs Green Call for Developer Donations to be Banned

Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating today criticized the NSW Labor government's planning laws, referring to Planning Minister Frank Sartor as "The Mayor for Triguboff" and calling for donations from property developers to be outlawed.

Speaking at the Local Government Association conference in the Blue Mountains, Mr Keating's remarks are embarrassing for the NSW Labor party which has collected over $5 million dollars in political donations from property developers since the Labor government was re-elected in 2003.

Mr Keating's comments were welcomed by Greens MP and planning spokesperson Sylvia Hale, who attended the conference over the weekend.

"It appears that like most members of the community Mr Keating is sick of the way the planning process in this state has been corrupted by money politics," said Ms Hale.

"Labor's changes to planning laws have centralised power with the Minister for Planning and excluded local communities."

"These changes may be an effective way of increasing donations to the Labor party but it undermines public confidence in the planning process."

"No-one believes the Labor party when it claims that taking millions of dollars from property developers has not influenced the decisions it makes as a government," said Ms Hale.

"In his usual forthright way Paul Keating has belled the Labor cat. The Labor Party should listen to him and ban developer donations so public confidence can be restored in the planning process in this state," said Ms Hale.

In 2003 the Greens introduced a private members bill to ban developer donations to political parties. The Labor, Liberal and National parties all voted against the Bill. Electoral Office figures reveal that since voting against the Greens Bill the Labor, Liberal and National Parties between them have collected over $7.7 million dollars in donations from property developers.

The Greens do not accept political donations from developers.